JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS STORY
US, 2020, 122 minutes, Colour.
Forest Whitaker, Keegan- Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Nonni Rose, Madalen Mills, Phylicia Rashad, Ricky Martin, Lisa Davina Philip, Justin Cornwall, Sharon Rose, Kieron L. Dyer.
Directed by David E.Talbert.
This is an unusual Christmas story, written and directed by Broadway producer and film director, David E.Talbert. It is the story of an equivalent Santa Claus, Jeronicus Jangle, who lives in a make-believe town, filmed in England, American in its African- American characters, but English and atmosphere.
Forest Whitaker plays an inventor, a wiz at maths, equations which visualise on screen. He makes gifts, and is commissioned especially by a wealthy landowner, played by Hugh Bonneville. His main invention is special robot, Buddy 3000. However, his assistant, Gustafson, steals the robot and goes off on his, very successful.
Jeronicus Jangle falls on hard times, his shop turning into a pawn shop, his wife dead, his little daughter now grown-up advised by him to go far away. In the meantime, Gustafson, Keegan- Michael Key, is prosperous and comes to town for a demonstration of Buddy 3000.
But, salvation comes in the form of Journey, Jeronicus’ granddaughter (Madalen Mills in a vigorous song and dance alter performance). She befriends the rather nerdy young boy who helps her.
This leads to a confrontation, Gustafson’s failure, the children trying to rescue Buddy, Jeronicus and Journey trying to work out equations to get them out of a giant fan blocking a tunnel where they find themselves.
Actually, the film was a musical comedy, with quite a light lot of musical numbers, vigorous choreography, a lot of gymnastics – reminiscent of the songs and dances in The Greatest Showman.
In some ways, there is so much going on, it is like an over-rich Christmas cake. On the other hand, there are quite a lot of things to entertain the younger audiences.
1. A different kind of Christmas story? Jeronicus as an alternative to Santa Claus and making toys? His family? His misfortunes?
2. The make-believe town, filmed in part in England, the English tones, yet the American atmosphere (and accents)? The range of the African- American cast?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, illustrating characters, situations, insertion into the plot?
4. The live-action story with grandmother Journey, the two children, the special Jeronicus’ book, her recounting the story?
5. A real live action musical, yet the many sequences with puppets, the fantasy effect, all the characters as puppets, but the creation of Don Juan Diego and his being a puppet throughout (voiced by Ricky Martin)?
6. Jeronicus, inventor, an enthusiastic young man, the shops, the customers, the sales, the delight? And the support of his wife and daughter?
7. Gustafson, inventor, wanting to succeed, wanting Jeronicus’ attention, being put off, the creation of Don Juan, his temptations, Gustafson succumbing, taking the invention, taking Don Juan?
8. The years passing, Jeronicus and his loss of inventiveness, loss of Buddy 3000, his running the pawn shop, a different relationship with customers? The death of his wife? His daughter growing up, her daughter? Jeronicus, his hard dealings with his daughter, her leaving and living far away?
9. Jeronicus and Mrs Johnson, her intervening, her attraction, singing and dancing, his reaction? Her delivering the post?
10. Gustafson, 20 years on, an entrepreneur, his style, vanity, his associate and support? Publicity? The Buddy 3000, inviting the audience, his failure, everybody departing?
11. Jeronicus and the return of his granddaughter, her lively spirit and age, her having his talent? Each of them able to imagine equations – and their appearing on the screen in fairy dust? Her determination to help her grandfather, not having to sell the shop?
12. The visit from Mr Delacroix, the money loan, his asking Jeronicus for an invention, his threats? His return, the performance of the Buddy 3000, his delight, promised to support Jeronicus?
13. The confrontation between Jronicus and Gustafson, the regrets, if only Gustafson had been patient?
14. The return of Jeronicus’s daughter, the reunited family? And Mrs Johnson in on the act?
15. The role of Edison, his age, nerdish, his family, the attraction to Jeronicus’ granddaughter, their working together? The importance of the rescue of Buddy 3000, the pursuit by Gustafson, the fire, in the tunnel, Jeronicus confident to get the formula so that they could come through and escape? Success?
16. The revelation of who grandmother was, and her delight in telling the story?
